1. Researching your contemporary issue From How to Write an Effective Special Study Dodson, Jarvis & Melhuish

2. SSABSA’s ethical research policy Be respectful and sensitive towards others Be respectful and sensitive towards others Obtaining permission from the person you are interviewing or surveying Obtaining permission from the person you are interviewing or surveying Respecting a person’s choice to remain anonymous, or that his or her opinions remain confidential Respecting a person’s choice to remain anonymous, or that his or her opinions remain confidential Make sure you are safe Make sure you are safe

3. Sources of information Identify a range of sources of information for your research Identify a range of sources of information for your research Should enable you to examine from a range of perspectives Should enable you to examine from a range of perspectives Consider whom the issue affects Consider whom the issue affects Newspapers, magazines, journals, webwatch are good starting points for contemporary issues Newspapers, magazines, journals, webwatch are good starting points for contemporary issues

4. Primary sources Information you get directly from observations, interviews, emails, letters or surveys. Information you get directly from observations, interviews, emails, letters or surveys. Primary data should form the basis of your special study with secondary data to complement your work. Primary data should form the basis of your special study with secondary data to complement your work. Eg to compare ideas and to give evidence for your assertions. Eg to compare ideas and to give evidence for your assertions.

5. Using Primary Data Quantitative data for graphs, tables or charts Quantitative data for graphs, tables or charts Qualitative data for quotes Qualitative data for quotes Interviews can provide quotes for main body of study Interviews can provide quotes for main body of study Surveys may provide tables or graphs to be referred to in the discussion Surveys may provide tables or graphs to be referred to in the discussion

6. Collecting Data Keep records of visits, observations, interviews and primary and secondary sources Keep records of visits, observations, interviews and primary and secondary sources Use contacts and yellow pages to find primary sources Use contacts and yellow pages to find primary sources Plan the first contact well, be specific in your request. Plan the first contact well, be specific in your request. No guarantees people will respond No guarantees people will respond

7. First contact Introduce yourself – first & family name Introduce yourself – first & family name Where you are from - clearly state Where you are from - clearly state Reason for contact – yr 12 Home Economics student seeking to collect information for your special study Reason for contact – yr 12 Home Economics student seeking to collect information for your special study Purpose of the special study & the audience – it is part of your assessment & is not a public document Purpose of the special study & the audience – it is part of your assessment & is not a public document The areas you wish to seek information about. The areas you wish to seek information about.

8. It is also important that You know who you are speaking to and contact details for follow up – check details at the end – needed for reference list if interview You know who you are speaking to and contact details for follow up – check details at the end – needed for reference list if interview If they are unable to assist, ask if they might know anyone or organisation who could help If they are unable to assist, ask if they might know anyone or organisation who could help You are prepared with your own contact details & the school details You are prepared with your own contact details & the school details Refer anyone who wishes to me. Refer anyone who wishes to me. Ph: 89991282 Ph: 89991282

9. Be Prepared Have all of your questions prepared Have all of your questions prepared Consider the purpose of your questions and how they will connect to your research question or hypothesis Consider the purpose of your questions and how they will connect to your research question or hypothesis Show questions to me before conducting research Show questions to me before conducting research

10. Interview tips Know the exact time and location. Ensure an adult knows (duty of care) Know the exact time and location. Ensure an adult knows (duty of care) May negotiate to send questions prior to interview May negotiate to send questions prior to interview A key starting point could be “What are the issues that are having an impact on…” A key starting point could be “What are the issues that are having an impact on…” Followed by “why are they issues? Followed by “why are they issues?

11. Interview etiquette Dress appropriately – you are representing your school Dress appropriately – you are representing your school Turn off your mobile phone Turn off your mobile phone Establish a rapport – talk to the person – be friendly Establish a rapport – talk to the person – be friendly Thank them for their time and effort. Thank them for their time and effort. Keep a complete and accurate record of what was said. Keep a complete and accurate record of what was said.

12. Surveys & questionnaires Key words – who; what; when; where; why; how; how often; what effect. Key words – who; what; when; where; why; how; how often; what effect. Questions that :- Questions that :- Ask for reasons Why? What? Ask for reasons Why? What? Ask for evaluation of reasons – agree / disagree? Why? Ask for evaluation of reasons – agree / disagree? Why? Probe Assumptions – How do you gauge customer resistance… Probe Assumptions – How do you gauge customer resistance… Ask for consequences and implications – what would be the consequences of…. Ask for consequences and implications – what would be the consequences of…. Ask for connections – how does that fit with Ask for connections – how does that fit with

13. Surveys & questionnaires cont’d Ask for definitions – What do understand by… Ask for definitions – What do understand by… Ask for examples – What is an example of Ask for examples – What is an example of Ask for alternatives – How? What would be a different view on? Ask for alternatives – How? What would be a different view on? Use a range of question types Use a range of question types Open; closed Open; closed

14. Survey Tips Don’t put your opinion on the survey Don’t put your opinion on the survey Don’t ask biased questions Don’t ask biased questions Don’t ask leading questions Don’t ask leading questions Keep it short – maximum 2 A4 pages Keep it short – maximum 2 A4 pages Start with a closed question Start with a closed question Don’t have too many open ended questions Don’t have too many open ended questions Do a test sample to check it works Do a test sample to check it works

15. Survey Monkey http://www.surveymonkey.com http://www.surveymonkey.com http://www.surveymonkey.com Using survey monkey you can create on line surveys and send the link out in an email. Using survey monkey you can create on line surveys and send the link out in an email. http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySu rveys.aspx sample surveys you can edit http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySu rveys.aspx sample surveys you can edit http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySu rveys.aspx http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySu rveys.aspx When people respond, survey monkey will collate the responses and calculate percentages. When people respond, survey monkey will collate the responses and calculate percentages. You can use this data to display analytical skills in the body of the research task. You can use this data to display analytical skills in the body of the research task.